Wire stripping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wire stripping apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a clamping device for holding a first portion, a cutter having a plurality of first edges, the first edges being movable toward and away from one another in a first direction wherein the first edges provide a cut in the insulation of the wire at the second portion, and a remover having a plurality of second edges, the second edges being movable toward and away from one another in a second direction different from the first direction wherein the second edges move toward one another to grasp a third portion adjacent to the second portion of the wire away from the first portion of the wire. The remover is movable in the lengthwise direction of the wire wherein the remover moves in the lengthwise direction of the wire away from the first portion to remove the insulation from the wire.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wire stripping apparatus forstripping an insulation layer from a wire.

BACKGROUND

An electrical wire generally comprises an inner core of conductor thatis surrounded by an insulation layer. When the electrical wire is joinedto other wires or connected to a terminal, the insulation needs to beremoved. The purpose of a wire stripping apparatus is to remove theinsulation from around the core of the wire to expose the core of thewire.

The wire stripping apparatus disclosed in Japanese unexaminedpublication JP2000-350324 comprises a pair of V-shaped cutters that areprovided opposite to an insulated wire and blades of the cutters aremoved toward the insulated wire to cut into the insulation from oppositesides without damaging the core, and the cutters are caused to move inthe lengthwise direction of the wire to remove the insulation.

According to this type of stripper in which the blades are caused tomove in the length of the wire, if cross sectional shapes of wire and/orcore are not uniform in the lengthwise direction of wire or if anadhesion between the core and the insulation is strong, it may bedifficult to strip the insulation from the wire properly. Moving theblades cutting into the insulation along the lengthwise direction of thewire may result in damage to the core.

Japanese unexamined publication H06-22425 relates to an assisting toolfor wire stripping in which a cut is formed in the insulation by usingheated blades. In stripping the insulation using this tool, a separateprocess is required to pull out the insulation from an end of the wire.It is difficult to pull the insulation if the length of the insulationto be removed is short. It is also difficult to twist strands of thecore by pulling out the insulation to keep the strands together.

The present invention is directed to provide a wire stripping apparatuswhich facilitates easy and effective stripping an insulation from a wirewhile eliminating damages to a core.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wire strippingapparatus for stripping a wire having a core and an insulation aroundthe core is provided. The apparatus comprises: a clamping device forholding a first portion of a wire comprising a core and an insulationaround the core; a cutter having a plurality of first edges, the firstedges being movable toward and away from one another in a firstdirection wherein the first edges move toward one another to contact asecond portion of the wire so as to provide a cut in the insulation ofthe wire at the second portion of the wire; a remover having a pluralityof second edges, the second edges being movable toward and away from oneanother in a second direction different from the first direction whereinthe second edges move toward one another to grasp a third portion of thewire adjacent to the second portion of the wire away from the firstportion of the wire; and the remover being movable in the lengthwisedirection of the wire wherein the remover grasping the third portion ofthe wire moves in the lengthwise direction of the wire away from thefirst portion of the wire to remove the insulation from the wire.

In an embodiment, the edges of the cutter and said second edges of theremover are movable in orthogonal directions substantially perpendicularto the lengthwise direction of the wire.

In an embodiment, the first edges are adapted to be heated to providethe cut by melting the insulation.

In an embodiment, the first edges comprise a blade cutting into theinsulation.

In an embodiment, the cutter is rotatable about an axis of the wire andthe first edges contacting the wire rotates about the axis of the wireto provide the cut in the insulation at the second portion of the wire.

In an embodiment, the remover is rotatable about an axis of the wire andthe remover grasping the wire moves in the lengthwise direction of thewire away from the first portion of the wire while simultaneouslyrotating about the axis of the wire to remove the insulation from thewire. It is possible to remove the insulation from the wire and twistingthe core at the same time.

The embodiments of the present invention employ a cutter for providing acut in an insulation of a wire and a remover for removing the insulationas separate elements so that an effective stripping of the insulation isperformed without damages to a core of the wire. The first clampingelements of the cutter and the second clamping elements of the removermove toward and away from the wire in different directions so that thefirst clamping elements and the second clamping elements can clampsubstantially the same portion of the wire without interfering with eachother.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of a wire stripping apparatus inwhich elements of a stripping mechanism are partially omitted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stripping mechanism in which a secondclamping elements and a second actuator are omitted.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the stripping mechanism in which a firstclamping elements and a first actuator are omitted.

FIG. 4 shows the first clamping elements and the second clampingelements in which the first and second clamping elements are in across-like configuration as viewed from the front of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view of the wire stripping apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom the front.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a clamping device.

FIG. 7 shows steps for removing an insulation layer from an end portionof a wire.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative embodiment ofthe stripping apparatus.

FIG. 9 shows a stripping mechanism of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a wire stripping apparatus according to anembodiment. The stripping apparatus comprises a casing 1 and a strippingmechanism housed in the casing 1. In FIG. 1, elements of the strippingmechanism, which are fully described in FIGS. 2 and 3, are partiallyomitted. The casing 1 is a longitudinal box having a front side and arear side. The casing 1 defines a front face 1A in which a wireinsertion aperture 1B for receiving a wire is provided. Inside thecasing 1, a clamping device 2 for clamping a wire is provided adjacentto the wire insertion aperture 1B and the wire is clamped by theclamping device 2 during stripping the wire. A position of the wire tobe clamped by the clamping device 2 is determined by a positioningdevice 3 provided on the stripping apparatus.

The stripping mechanism of the wire stripping apparatus comprises acutter having a first pair of clamping elements 4 and a remover havingsecond pair of clamping elements 5. Referring to FIG. 4, the first pairof clamping elements 4 comprises a pair of edges 40 which are movabletoward and away from one another. When the edges 40 move toward eachother and contact a wire W, a cut is formed in an insulation I of thewire W by the edges 40. The second pair of clamping elements 5 comprisesa pair of edges 50 which are movable toward and away from one another.The edges 50 are adapted to grasp a portion of the wire immediatelyadjacent to the cut formed by the first pair of clamping elements 4 onthe side opposite the clamping device 2. The first pair of clampingelements 4 and the second pair of clamping elements 5 are movable indifferent directions one another substantially perpendicular to an axisof the wire. In an embodiment, the first pair of clamping elements 4 ismovable in an X direction and the second pair of clamping elements 5 ismovable in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction.

The stripping mechanism further comprises a first actuator 6 for causingthe first clamping elements 4 to move toward and away from one another,a second actuator 7 for causing the second clamping elements 5 to movetoward and away from one another, a shaft 8 extending along thelengthwise direction of the casing 1, a rear wall 9 for supporting arear end of the shaft 8 and a front wall 10 for supporting a front endof the shaft 8.

The rear end portion of the shaft 8 is rotatably supported by the rearwall 9 via a bearing. The forward end portion of the shaft 8 comprises ahead portion 80 with a circular plate-like portion 81 having a largerdiameter and an extended portion 82 extended forwardly from the headportion 80. The forward end portion of the shaft 8 is rotatablysupported via a bearing provided between an inner circumference in thefront wall 10 and an outer circumference of the circular plate-likeportion 81. The shaft 8 comprises a hollow portion and open ends so asto function as a collecting pipe for stripped insulation.

The first actuator 6 is reciprocally movable along the lengthwisedirection of the shaft 8 by a motor M2. The second actuator 7 isreciprocally movable along the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8 by amotor M3. The shaft 8 is actuated to rotate by a motor M4 and gears 12and 14 provided at a rear side of the shaft 8. The gear 12 is rotated bythe motor M4 and is coupled to the gear 14 by a toothed belt 13 suchthat the shaft 8 is actuated to rotate by rotating the gears 12 and 14with the motor M4. The first actuator 6 and the second actuator 7 arerotated together with the rotation of the shaft 8. The strippingmechanism is movable along the lengthwise direction within the casing 1by a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism comprises an LM shaft 110 anda linear bush 111.

Referring to FIG. 6, the clamping device 2 comprises left and rightclampers 20A and 20B and an actuating mechanism for actuating clampers20A and 20B. Clampers 20A and 20B comprise a pair of V-shaped edgesbeing movable toward and away from one another. The actuating mechanismcomprises movable blocks 21A and 21B for causing the clampers 20A and20B to reciprocally move in the lateral direction and a motor M1 forcausing the movable blocks 21A and 21B to reciprocally move in thelateral direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the wire. Afirst gear 22 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 1 and a secondgear 23A having a larger diameter is rotated together with the rotationof the first gear 22. A third gear 23B having a larger diameter isgeared to the second gear 23A such that the second gear 23A and thethird gear 23B rotate together in opposite directions. A fourth gear 24Aand a fifth gear 24B both having a smaller diameter are rotated togetherwith the rotations of the second gear 23A and the third gear 23B. Afirst rack 25A geared to the fourth gear 24A and a second rack 25Bgeared to the fifth gear 24B are movable toward and away from oneanother in the lateral direction so as to clamp the wire betweenV-shaped edges of the clampers 20A and 20B.

The positioning device 3 comprises left and right rotatable bars 30 and31, and a positioning bar 32 connected between the forward portions ofthe rotatable bars 30 and 31. The positioning device 3 is rotatablebetween a horizontal positioning position and an upwardly tilted escapeposition. When the tip of the wire received in the wire insertionaperture 1B contacts a sensor of the positioning bar 32 in thehorizontal position, the motor M1 is actuated to cause the clampingdevice 2 to clamp the wire. The stripping mechanism with the positioningdevice mounted is movable along the lengthwise direction within thecasing 1 and the position of the sensor of the positioning bar 32relative to the front wall 1A can be variable such that the clampingposition can be adjusted by setting the position of the positioning bar32.

The first clamping elements 4 are a pair of jaws provided at each offorward ends of a pair of swing arms 41. The swing arm 41 is providedwith the jaw at a forward end and a guide roller 42 at a rear end. Theswing arm 41 is coupled to a pivot P1 provided at the head portion 80 ofthe shaft 8 via a supporting arm 43. The pair of swing arms 41 pivotsabout the pivot P1 such that the forward ends are open or closed. Theedges 40 of first clamping elements 4 move away from one another whenthe swing arms 41 rotate in a direction where the forward ends of theswing arms 41 are open. The edges 40 of first clamping elements 4 movetoward each other when the swing arms 41 rotate in a direction where theforward ends of the swing arms 41 are closed.

The pair of swing arms 41 is spring-biased in a direction where thefront ends are closed. Thus, the clamping elements 4 elastically clampthe wire by a spring force so that the edges of the first clampingelements 4 follow the shape/contour of the wire to form a cut in theinsulation property.

The pivotal movements of swing arms 41 are obtained by the firstactuator 6 that is reciprocally movable along the lengthwise directionof the shaft 8. The first actuator 6 comprises a front portion defininga pair of angled guide surfaces 60 provided at the forward side and anelongated base portion 61 integrally formed with the front portion andextended rearwardly along the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8. Thebase portion 61 is slidably mounted along the lengthwise direction ofthe shaft 8. A lead screw 62 is provided at the rear wall 9 and is to berotated by the motor M2. The lead screw 62 is provided with a movablebody 63 that moves on the lead screw 62 with the rotation of the screw62. The lead screw 62 extends in parallel to the shaft 8 and the movablebody 63 is connected to the base portion 61 such that the first actuator6 moves along the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8 with the rotationof the lead screw 62. The first actuator 6 is movable along thelengthwise direction of the shaft 8 between a rearward first positionand a forward second position.

The forward ends of the swing arms 41 are open or closed with guiderollers 42 at the rear ends being guided by the angled guide surfaces 60that function as a cam. When the first actuator 6 is in the rearwardfirst position, the guide rollers 42 contact the forward end of theguide surfaces 60 and the forward ends of the swing arms 41 are closedwhere the edges of the clamping elements 4 are close to each other asshown in FIG. 2. When the actuator 6 moves forwardly from the rearwardfirst position, guide rollers 42 move rearwardly relative to the guidesurfaces 60 and are guided by the angled guide surfaces 60 to movetoward each other so that the forward ends of the swing arms 41 are openand the edges 40 of the clamping elements 4 moved away from each other.

The edges 40 of the first clamping elements 4 are parallel opposed thinedges. The first clamping elements 4 are adapted to be heated by aheater to several hundred degrees, 300 to 500 degrees Celsius forexample. An electric supply is brought to the heater by a slip ring. Thefirst clamping elements 4 are heated so that a cut is formed in theinsulation I of the wire W by melting the insulation I with the heat ofheated edges 40. The first clamping elements 4 are rotatable around thewire with the rotation of the shaft 8. The first clamping elements 4with edges 40 contacting the insulation of the wire are rotated to formthe cut around the insulation. The first clamping elements 4 maycomprise a sharp blade cutting into the insulation 2 as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,370,759, for example, which is incorporated herein byreference. The first clamping elements 4 may be detachable so as toselect the type of cutter, i.e. heat or blade.

The second clamping elements 5 are a pair of jaws provided at each offorward ends a pair of swing arms 51. The swing arm 51 is provided withthe jaw at a forward end and a guide roller 52 at a rear end. The swingarm 51 is coupled to a pivot P2 provided at the head 80 of the shaft 8via a supporting arm 53. The pair of swing arms 51 pivots about thepivot P2 such that the forward ends are open or closed. The edges 50 ofsecond clamping elements 5 move away from one another when the swingarms 51 rotate in a direction where the forward ends of the swing arms51 are open and the edges 50 of second clamping elements 5 move towardeach other when the swing arms 51 rotate in a direction where theforward ends of the swing arms 51 are closed.

The pivotal movements of swing arms 51 are obtained by the secondactuator 7 that is reciprocally movable along the lengthwise directionof the shaft 8. The second actuator 7 comprises a front portion definingangled guide surfaces 70 provided at the forward side and a base portion71 integrally formed with the front portion and extended rearwardlyalong the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8. The base portion 71 isslidably mounted along the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8. A leadscrew 72 is provided at the rear wall 9 and is to be rotated by themotor M3. The lead screw 72 is provided with a movable body 73 thatmoves on the lead screw 72 with the rotation of the screw 72. The leadscrew 72 extends in parallel to the shaft 8 and the movable body 73 isconnected to the base portion 71 such that the second actuator 7 movesalong the lengthwise direction of the shaft 8 with the rotation of thelead screw 72. The second actuator 7 is movable along the lengthwisedirection of the shaft 8 between a rearward first position and a forwardsecond position.

The forward ends of the swing arms 51 are open or closed with guiderollers 52 at the rear ends being guided by the angled guide surfaces 70that function as a cam. When the second actuator 7 is in the rearwardfirst position, the guide roller 52 contacts the forward ends of theguide surfaces 70 and the forward ends of the swing arms 51 are open.When the actuator 7 moves forwardly from the rearward first position,guide rollers 52 move rearwardly relative to the guide surfaces 70 andare guided by the angled guide surfaces 70 to move away from one anotherso that the forward ends of the swing arms 51 move toward each other andthe edges 50 of the clamping elements 5 are close to each other.

The edges 50 of the second clamping elements 5 are V-shaped edges. Theedge 50 is provided with a plurality of teeth so as to grasp the wire Wfirmly. Each second clamping element 5 is formed by overlapping twoplates 5A and 5B having an angled edge extending at an angle of 45degrees to provide the V-shaped edge. When the pair of second clampingelements 5 moves close to each other, an end portion of the plate 5A ofone clamping element overlaps an end portion of the plate 5B of theother clamping element and an end portion of the plate 5B of oneclamping element overlaps an end portion of the plate 5A of the otherclamping element. The end portions of clamping elements 5 are slightlycurved toward the tips such that the end portions of clamping elements 5are overlapped smoothly when the edges 50 of the clamping elements 5provided at the forward ends of the swing arms 51 are close to eachother.

The second clamping elements 5 are rotatable around the wire togetherwith the rotation of the shaft 8. When the pair of second clampingelements 5 grasping the wire W moves rearwardly while simultaneouslyrotating, the insulation I is removed and the core C is twisted by theedges 50 of the second clamping elements 5. The wire W is comprised of aconductive core surrounded by an insulation layer, and the core isgenerally comprised of a bundle of multiple fine strands. According tothe present embodiment, exposed strands are twisted by the rotatingsecond clamping elements 5 without spreading out when removing theinsulation.

When the edges 50 of the second clamping elements 5 are close to eachother, an opening of the forward end of the shaft 8 (the extendedportion 82) is positioned behind the closed edges 50 so that a strippedinsulation can be collected from the opening of the shaft 8 through thehollow portion of the shaft 8 by suction means provided at the rear sideof the shaft 8.

The stripping apparatus defines an axis that is substantially coincidentwith the lengthwise direction of the wire or coaxial with the wire. Boththe first clamping elements 4 and the second clamping elements 5 movetoward and away from one another with respect to the axis and alsorotate about the axis. The second clamping elements move along the axiswhile simultaneously rotating about the axis.

Wire stripping processes using the wire stripping apparatus will bedescribed. A predetermined length of wire W is provided. The wire W isinserted into the wire insertion aperture 1B in the front wall 1A. Whenthe tip of the wire W contacts the sensor of the positioning bar 32, themotor M1 is actuated to cause the clampers 20A and 20B of the clampingdevice 2 to clamp the wire W. Simultaneously, the positioning bar 32moves upward away from the wire. At this point, the edges 40 of thefirst clamping elements 4 as well as the edges 50 of the second clampingelements 5 are kept apart.

When the motor M2 is actuated to rotate the lead screw 62 so as to movethe first actuator 6 rearwardly, the guide rollers 42 are guided on theguide surfaces 60 of the first actuator 6 and the swing arms are causedto pivot such that the forward ends of the swing arms 41 move towardeach other by the spring force and the rear ends of the swing arms 41move away from each other.

When the guide rollers 42 move to the front end of the guide surfaces60, the edges 40 of the first clamping elements 40 contact theinsulation, followed by rotating the first clamping elements 40 aroundthe wire W by rotating the shaft 8 by the motor M4. The first clampingelements 4 are heated by the heater and the cut is formed around theinsulation of the wire with the heated first clamping elements 4.

When the lead screw 62 is caused to rotate in the reverse direction bythe motor M2 so as to move the first actuator 6 forwardly, the guiderollers 42 are guided on the guide surfaces 60 of the first actuator 6and the swing arms are caused to pivot such that the forward ends of theswing arms 41 move away from each other and the rear ends of the swingarms 41 move toward each other.

As soon as the lead screw 62 is reversely rotated by the motor M2, themotor M3 is then actuated to rotate the lead screw 72 so as to move thesecond actuator 7 forwardly. When the second actuator 7 moves forwardly,the guide rollers 52 are guided on the guide surfaces 70 of the secondactuator 7 and the swing arms 51 are caused to pivot such that theforward ends of the swing arms 51 move toward each other and the rearends of the swing arms 51 move away from each other. When the guiderollers 52 move to the rear end of the guide surfaces 70, the edges 50of the second clamping elements 5 grasp a rearward portion of theinsulation of the wire immediately adjacent to the cut formed by thefirst clamping elements 4, followed by moving the stripping mechanismrearwardly via the slide mechanism by the motor M5 while simultaneouslyrotating the shaft 8 by the motor M4 thereby removing the insulationfrom the wire and twisting the core.

When the lead screw 72 is caused to rotate in the reverse direction bythe motor M3 so as to move the second actuator 7 rearwardly, the guiderollers 52 are guided on the guide surfaces 70 of the second actuator 7and the swing arms 51 are caused to pivot such that the forward ends ofthe swing arms 51 move away from each other and the rear ends of theswing arms 51 move toward each other. The removed insulation is suckedfrom the forward opening of the shaft 8 and collected from the rearopening of the shaft 8 by the suction means.

The stripping mechanism is movable along the lengthwise direction of thewire W held by the clamping device 2 so that the clamping position bythe second clamping elements 5 can be adjusted by slightly moving thestripping mechanism backward, for example, after forming the cut in theinsulation by the first clamping elements 4.

An exemplary implementation has been described in accordance with FIG. 1in which the first and second clamping elements 4 and 5 are provided atthe forward ends of the swing arms 41 and 51 respectively. The edges 40and 50 move substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction ofthe wire though the edges 40 and 50 follow arcuate paths by pivotalmovement of the swing arms 41 and 51.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are view showing an alternative embodiment of strippingapparatus in which the edges 40 and 50 move toward and away from eachother perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the wire. Thestripping apparatus is provided with the positioning device 3 though notshown in FIG. 8. The same reference numerals are used in the drawingsand description to refer to the same or substantially the same parts andoperations.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of first clamping elements 4 isprovided on a pair of first movable blocks 41′ which move toward andaway from one another perpendicular to the length of the wire. The firstmovable block 41′ moves along a first guide shaft 43′ that is connectedto the head portion 80 of the shaft 8 and extended perpendicular to thelengthwise direction of the shaft 8. Each first movable block 41′ maymove along two parallel first guide shafts 43′. The pair of firstmovable blocks 41′ is spring-biased by a spring not shown in a directionsuch that the edges 40 of the first clamping elements 4 move toward eachother by a spring force.

A pair of second clamping elements 5 is provided on a pair of secondmovable blocks 51′ which move toward and away from one anotherperpendicular to the length of the wire. The second movable block 51′moves along a second guide shaft 53′ that is connected to the headportion 80 of the shaft 8 and extended perpendicular to the lengthwisedirection of the shaft 8. Each second movable block 51′ may move alongtwo parallel first guide shafts 53′. The pair of second movable blocks51′ is spring-biased by a spring not shown in a direction such that theedges 50 of the second clamping elements 5 move away from each other bya spring force.

The stripping mechanism comprises a first actuator 6′ for causing thefirst clamping elements 4 to move toward and away from one another, anda second actuator 7′ for causing the second clamping elements 5 to movetoward and away from one another.

The first actuator 6′ comprises a tapered cam surface 60′ at a forwardend. The first movable block 41′ comprises a cam follower 42′ to contactthe tapered cam surface 60′. Each first movable block 41′ may move alongtwo spaced-apart parallel first guide shafts 43′ and the cam follower42′ may be provided between portions for receiving fist guide shafts43′. The first actuator 6′ is reciprocally movable along the lengthwisedirection of the shaft 8 and rotatable about the shaft 8 similar to theactuator 6 in FIG. 2.

The second actuator 7′ comprises a tapered cam surface 70′ at a forwardend. The second movable block 51′ comprises a cam follower 52′ tocontact the tapered cam surface 70′. Each second movable block 51′ maymove along two spaced-apart parallel second guide shafts 53′ and the camfollower 52′ may be provided between portions for receiving fist guideshafts 53′. The second actuator 7′ is reciprocally movable along thelengthwise direction of the shaft 8 and rotatable about the shaft 8similar to the actuator 7 in FIG. 3.

The similar configuration using a tapered cam surface and a cam followeris disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,759, which is incorporated herein byreference.

According to the stripping apparatus shown in the drawings, a wire W isoriented and extended in a substantially horizontal direction andsupplied to the apparatus horizontally. A wire may be supplied to theapparatus vertically by providing a vertically oriented strippingapparatus as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,759, for example.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, itwill be appreciated that various changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A wire strippingapparatus comprising: a clamping device for holding a first portion of awire comprising a core and an insulation around the core; a wirestripping mechanism; a casing for housing said clamping device and saidwire stripping mechanism; and a wire insertion aperture provided in awall of the casing, said wire stripping mechanism comprising: a shaftbeing rotatably supported and extended in the lengthwise direction ofthe wire; a cutter having a pair of first clamping elements, said firstclamping elements being movable toward and away from each other in afirst direction and rotatable together with the rotation of the shaftwherein said first clamping elements move toward each other to contact asecond portion of the wire and rotate about the wire so as to provide acut in the insulation of the wire at the second portion of the wire; aremover having a pair of second clamping elements, said second clampingelements being movable toward and away from each other in a seconddirection and rotatable together with the rotation of the shaft whereinsaid first and second directions are orthogonal one another andsubstantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the wire andwherein said second clamping elements move toward each other to grasp athird portion of the wire immediately adjacent to the second portion ofthe wire away from the first portion of the wire; and said remover beingmovable in the lengthwise direction of the wire wherein said removergrasping the third portion of the wire moves in the lengthwise directionaway from the first portion of the wire toward an end of the wire whilerotating about the wire to remove the insulation from the wire.
 2. Thewire stripping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first clamping elementsare adapted to be heated to provide the cut by melting the insulation.3. The wire stripping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first clampingelements comprise a blade cutting into the insulation.
 4. The wirestripping apparatus of claim 1, said wire stripping mechanism furthercomprising a first actuator being reciprocally movable along the shaftand a second actuator being reciprocally movable along the shaft whereinsaid first actuator causes said first clamping elements to move towardand away from each other in the first direction and said second actuatorcauses said second clamping elements to move toward and away from eachother in the second direction.
 5. The wire stripping apparatus of claim1, further comprising a positioning device for determining said firstportion being provided between said wire insertion aperture and saidwire stripping mechanism, and said positioning device being rotatablebetween a first position in which said positioning device is to becontacted by the tip of wire received in said wire insertion apertureand a second portion in which said positioning device is away from thewire held by said clamping device.
 6. The wire stripping apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said shaft comprises a hollow portion having a firstopen end and a second open end and wherein said first end is providedfacing the end of the wire, said hollow portion is sized to receive andallow passage of the insulation removed from the wire.
 7. The wirestripping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping mechanism ismovable in the lengthwise direction of the wire and said remover ismoved in the lengthwise direction of the wire together with saidstripping mechanism by moving the stripping mechanism.
 8. The wirestripping apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second open end of the shaftis connectable to a suction source.